Thousands Rally In Istanbul In Solidarity With Palestinians Over Al-Aqsa Mosque

aspacpalestine.com – Istanbul. Thousands of people gathered Sunday at one of Istanbul’s biggest squares to show solidarity with Palestinians over the recent Israeli restrictions at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.

People arrived at the square in Istanbul’s Yenikapi district, located on the shores of the Sea of Marmara, carrying Palestinian and Turkish flags while chanting slogans in support of Palestinian resistance.

The rally was jointly organized by the Foundation for Human Rights and Freedoms and Humanitarian Relief (IHH), the Confederation of Public Servants Trade Unions (Memur-Sen) and the small right-wing Saadet Party, along with other groups and NGOs.

Israel sparked anger across the West Bank after it installed metal detectors and security cameras at the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex following a July 14 attack near the Haram al-Sharif, known to Jewish people as the Temple Mount, during which gunmen killed two policemen.

The move sparked protests across the Muslim world as Palestinians refused to enter the mosque and prayed on the streets surrounding the Al-Aqsa compound.

Protests and deadly unrest erupted in the days after the measures were installed, with clashes breaking out around the compound in Jerusalem’s Old City, in the occupied West Bank and in the Gaza Strip.

Seven Palestinians were killed as a result of the clashes.

The Israeli government removed the detectors Tuesday, and also uninstalled the cameras.

The move was widely welcomed around the world as Palestinians held celebrations around Al-Aqsa.